Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Flashlight question

I'm not sure if you get them over there but I've got one that has a 3.7V lithium cell and comes with a charger but also comes with a battery carrier that holds 3 x AA batteries that you can swap out the lithium cell for. I never used the AA option since the lithium cell has good life. And it hasn't caught fire while charging yet. It's made in China and I'll have to check the brand it's sold as here.

It's bright and focusable and even fits the Led Lenser holder that attaches it to a scope, but haven't tested in on night time bunnies yet.

I have several Fenix flashlights for over a decade no trouble lots of light. Oldest one takes about 8 AA that I remove to charge. My most used is a PD36r that has a bigger battery but charges off USB and and cell phone charging end I think C connect. Great tough flashlight. Have dropped on concrete several times.

Pick the Streamlight rechargeable that best fits your needs. That's what I did several years ago and they're still going strong.

I have an Olight rechargeable that has been doing well for 5 years or so, very bright, very handy. The OP has a point regards "what if you cannot recharge it", conceivable situations might be back pack hunting or camping. Then I would choose a flashlight that took two cr123 batteries if I wanted something bright and did not want AAA batteries or AA batteries. OTOH I have a black diamond headlamp that takes 4 AAA batteries, I have had for longer than I can remember and its very bright, features red and green, 3 or 4 brightness settings, I have been very happy with it. The Olight goes with me a lot in my pocket for day to day stuff, the black diamond goes with me hunting all the time.

Great info as always fellas. Appreciate it very much!

Casey, I use a Streamlight Macrostream 50/500 lumen light. It's rechargeable. 8 hours run time on low power. You could carry a charged extra battery if that was needed.

Loving my Nebo flashlights. High quality, durable and almighty bright for their size.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nebo+flashlight&adgrpid=1346902308032351&hvadid=84181633337301&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=75240&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-84181737729908%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=1459_13459449&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_44kbgmvw50_e

https://www.amazon.com/NEBO-Powerful-Handheld-Flashlight-Waterproof/dp/B08NZ3BVQL/ref=sr_1_9?adgrpid=1346902308032351&hvadid=84181633337301&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=75240&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-84181737729908%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=1459_13459449&keywords=nebo%2Bflashlight&qid=1705840895&sr=8-9&th=1

You should eat diner with a spoon so you don't end up with a fork in your eye.

Exactly. The days of Surefire, Streamlight and the like being the be-all-end-all makers of tough, well-made flashlights are over. It just isn't that hard. I've got a Harbor Freight in my garage and each of my cars, and Coast-brand lights from Ace in my house. I've got a few Nebos, too. All very good lights.

It comes down to whether you want quality or a throw-away.

I have and use both replaceable battery and rechargeables. Flashlights are like pocketknives: you need more than one.

Until I retired almost 8 years ago I used small flashlights made by Pelican. Got one sitting right here on my desk; a "Pelican MityLite 2430", which takes 4 "AA' Batteries and has some type of LED bulb that lasts a long time and so do the batteries. Used one all the time 5 days a week at work. Only problem now is that I think they aren't available anymore. Nowadays I keep small rechargeable flashlights from Harbor Freight in my truck. The ones you can stick into the power outlet on the dash to recharge. Cost about 4 or 5 bucks a pop. I gave some out as stocking stuffers to the kids a couple years ago and I've had a couple longer than that. No problems.

It's not a binary choice. There is a place for both kinds. A lot of relatives got stranded in places, some for days, without power after Hurricane Katrina. They weren't flashlight people and did not have any light. I started giving them flashlights and they acted like I had given them gold. A simple flashlight with a pack of AA batteries would have been a Godsend for them. While I carry rechargeable flashlights (that also take CR123 batteries that I keep in my packs as backups), I am never without some simple AA lights. I always have a single AA Fenix E12 in my pocket, and all of my packs have spare AA batteries in them. It's only rated for 1 hour of runtime at 160 lumens, but it's rated for 13 hours at 30 lumens and 70 hours at 5 lumens. The Streamight Pro Tac looks good and more powerful, but I don't carry one that big every day when I can carry a smaller rechargeable instead. Maybe for a light to throw in a pack.

Probably what im getting. The 2aa version i think

No doubt. I have a pile. Surefires, streamlights, cheap ones ect. Most run on 123s and some are rechargeable. Didnt realize i only had one that uses AAs.

This should be a consideration with flashlights for when the Shinola hits the fan. Those cr123 and 18650 batteries may be "better".... but they're hardly available everywhere. I have to order from somewhere to get them. However, we live in a world awash in AA and AAA batteries. They can be found in every Dollar store, grocery store, or drug store. Every junk drawer in every kitchen in America probably has AA or AAA batteries to be scrounged if the need arises.

You might check out what is down at the dive shops. They had a double AA that used four AA batteries, but they were stacked two on top of two for a very compact yet strong light that was really submersible. While I have a headlight in my pack, what I've found works better for just walking into a deer stand in the dark is a green single LED AA held down at waist level. I've spooked deer using a white too bright a flashlight.

Stream light